Virginia

Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Virginia

Name: CT Chest Cost in Virginia (2026)
Creator: Jayant Panwar
Published: 2026-03-18

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Virginia's diverse healthcare landscape spans from the academic medical centers of Richmond and Charlottesville to rural community hospitals across the Shenandoah Valley, creating significant variation in Chest CT Scan costs throughout the state. Based on transparency data from major insurers, patients typically pay between $41 and $371 for a Chest CT Scan, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $134. Virginia hosts 2,895 active providers offering Chest CT Scan services, giving patients substantial choice when browsing all providers in Virginia.

Average

$182

Median

$134

Lowest

$41

Highest

$371

Providers

2,895

National avg: $302Virginia: $182

40% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Virginia?

Procedure	CPT	Low	Median	High	Providers
MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast	70553	$76	$265	$970	3,183
MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast	73721	$45	$172	$569	3,190
MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast	72148	$49	$157	$553	3,167
CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast	74177	$60	$214	$514	2,957

Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.

The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 71260 — CT chest with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.

Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.

This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.

Where this data comes from & what CPT 71260 covers

Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.

What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.

How to read this data

Negotiated Rate

The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.

P5, Median, P95

P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.

What this does not tell you

These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.

Full data methodology and glossary

Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across Virginia

Virginia's healthcare costs run approximately 3% above the national average, reflecting the state's mix of expensive Northern Virginia suburbs near Washington DC and more affordable rural regions throughout central and southwestern areas. The Commonwealth's moderate but growing ambulatory surgery center market provides cost-effective alternatives to traditional hospital-based imaging services.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Northern Virginia's proximity to Washington DC creates a concentration of high-end imaging facilities and subspecialty practices, while rural counties in Appalachian Virginia often rely on critical access hospitals with limited advanced imaging capabilities. This geographic disparity forces some patients to travel significant distances for specialized chest imaging, potentially increasing total episode costs including transportation and time off work.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments at major Virginia health systems like Sentara, Carilion, and Inova typically charge facility fees that can double the total cost compared to freestanding imaging centers. Independent radiology practices often operate with lower overhead costs and can pass those savings to patients, particularly for routine chest imaging that doesn't require hospital-level resources.

Insurance Market Competition in Virginia

The presence of strong regional players like Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Optima Health alongside national carriers creates moderate competition that helps contain imaging costs compared to monopolistic markets. Virginia's insurance market structure allows for meaningful negotiation between payers and providers, though the dominance of large health systems in certain regions can limit pricing flexibility.

Physician Supply and Demand in Virginia

With 2,895 active providers offering Chest CT Scan services, Virginia maintains adequate radiologist availability relative to its population, preventing the supply shortages that drive up costs in other states. This healthy provider supply supports competitive pricing and reasonable appointment availability, though subspecialty thoracic imaging expertise remains concentrated in academic medical centers and larger metropolitan areas.

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Jayant Panwar

CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA

Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.

The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in Virginia

What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Virginia without insurance?

Self-pay patients in Virginia can expect to pay between $41 and $371 for a Chest CT Scan, with a median cost of $134 based on negotiated insurance rates. Actual cash prices may differ from these amounts, as many facilities offer self-pay discounts of 20-40% off their standard rates. Independent imaging centers typically charge less than hospital-based facilities, making it worthwhile to compare prices before scheduling your scan.

Does Virginia Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?

Yes, Virginia Medicaid covers medically necessary Chest CT Scans since the state expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2019. Coverage requires prior authorization in most cases, and your ordering physician must demonstrate medical necessity for the imaging study. Medicaid patients typically have no out-of-pocket costs for approved imaging services when using in-network providers.

How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Virginia?

Compare prices between hospital-based imaging departments and independent outpatient facilities, as costs can vary significantly even within the same city. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, and consider community health centers that may offer sliding-scale fees. Many freestanding imaging centers in Virginia operate with lower overhead costs and can provide the same quality scans at reduced prices.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

Chest CT Scans are imaging procedures rather than consultation visits, so the cost remains consistent at $134 median regardless of whether this is your first scan or a follow-up study. However, if you require a radiologist consultation to discuss complex findings, initial consultations typically cost more than follow-up appointments due to the additional time required for comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in Virginia?

Yes, Chest CT Scans qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) when ordered by a physician for diagnostic purposes. You can use these pre-tax dollars to pay for the imaging study, any associated facility fees, and related medical expenses. Keep all receipts and documentation for tax purposes and FSA reimbursement claims.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Virginia?

While the actual CT scan must be performed in person at an imaging facility, telemedicine can reduce costs by allowing radiologists to provide remote consultations for discussing results or planning follow-up care. Some Virginia practices offer telehealth follow-up visits at lower rates than in-person consultations, particularly for routine result discussions. However, the imaging procedure itself requires physical presence at an accredited facility.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$131

$2,723

Office visit (CPT 71260)

Compare With Other States

Rank	State	Average↓	Min⇅	Max⇅	Providers⇅
1	North Dakota(ND) Range: $118 – $7,881	$2,723	$118	$7,881	653
2	Minnesota(MN) Range: $80 – $7,881	$2,711	$80	$7,881	3,188
3	Wisconsin(WI) Range: $73 – $863	$363	$73	$863	4,270
4	Georgia(GA) Range: $61 – $699	$319	$61	$699	3,315
5	Wyoming(WY) Range: $54 – $598	$287	$54	$598	184
6	Nevada(NV) Range: $80 – $453	$272	$80	$453	2,690
7	Maine(ME) Range: $93 – $439	$262	$93	$439	1,705
8	Nebraska(NE) Range: $108 – $415	$246	$108	$415	2,647
9	Hawaii(HI) Range: $67 – $348	$243	$67	$348	114
10	New Mexico(NM) Range: $52 – $505	$242	$52	$505	1,300
11	Iowa(IA) Range: $73 – $424	$237	$73	$424	424
12	Vermont(VT) Range: $49 – $516	$236	$49	$516	346
13	North Carolina(NC) Range: $60 – $443	$233	$60	$443	2,569
14	New Hampshire(NH) Range: $67 – $446	$232	$67	$446	3,685
15	Massachusetts(MA) Range: $64 – $454	$230	$64	$454	1,801
16	Rhode Island(RI) Range: $54 – $454	$226	$54	$454	86
17	Alaska(AK) Range: $54 – $449	$224	$54	$449	58
18	District of Columbia(DC) Range: $49 – $454	$223	$49	$454	338
19	Colorado(CO) Range: $55 – $441	$218	$55	$441	1,721
20	Utah(UT) Range: $54 – $374	$212	$54	$374	419
21	California(CA) Range: $25 – $521	$210	$25	$521	10,242
22	Indiana(IN) Range: $54 – $411	$206	$54	$411	468
23	New York(NY) Range: $42 – $443	$205	$42	$443	32,246
24	Washington(WA) Range: $54 – $384	$203	$54	$384	3,423
25	Michigan(MI) Range: $57 – $356	$195	$57	$356	2,175
26	Illinois(IL) Range: $64 – $346	$192	$64	$346	7,047
27	Tennessee(TN) Range: $61 – $333	$188	$61	$333	2,701
28	Pennsylvania(PA) Range: $50 – $389	$185	$50	$389	2,029
29	West Virginia(WV) Range: $64 – $317	$184	$64	$317	229
30	Virginia(VA) Range: $41 – $371	$182	$41	$371	2,895
31	Idaho(ID) Range: $54 – $321	$182	$54	$321	167
32	New Jersey(NJ) Range: $41 – $371	$181	$41	$371	7,333
33	Connecticut(CT) Range: $54 – $389	$179	$54	$389	915
34	Texas(TX) Range: $54 – $345	$178	$54	$345	11,171
35	South Carolina(SC) Range: $54 – $339	$178	$54	$339	1,384
36	Kansas(KS) Range: $59 – $324	$178	$59	$324	1,893
37	Oregon(OR) Range: $70 – $291	$177	$70	$291	758
38	South Dakota(SD) Range: $134 – $222	$175	$134	$222	321
39	Alabama(AL) Range: $48 – $332	$173	$48	$332	2,695
40	Delaware(DE) Range: $61 – $273	$170	$61	$273	205
41	Louisiana(LA) Range: $48 – $288	$169	$48	$288	1,374
42	Kentucky(KY) Range: $54 – $335	$169	$54	$335	473
43	Arkansas(AR) Range: $61 – $278	$164	$61	$278	149
44	Montana(MT) Range: $54 – $263	$163	$54	$263	108
45	Maryland(MD) Range: $24 – $335	$161	$24	$335	4,048
46	Mississippi(MS) Range: $48 – $307	$160	$48	$307	1,325
47	Missouri(MO) Range: $64 – $265	$159	$64	$265	5,432
48	Oklahoma(OK) Range: $51 – $298	$154	$51	$298	2,180
49	Ohio(OH) Range: $41 – $298	$154	$41	$298	4,434
50	Arizona(AZ) Range: $54 – $267	$145	$54	$267	6,691
51	Florida(FL) Range: $35 – $297	$131	$35	$297	5,487